Saigon River tunnel to close for fire safety drill

The traffic ban will apply from 8:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. on each of the days, the municipal Department of Transport announced Thursday.

Aside from the night curfew, the tunnel under the Saigon River will also be closed from 7:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. on May 27 and 28 for the rehearsal and training of fire fighting and prevention.

Drivers will have to take the road to travel between District 1 and Thu Duc City when the tunnel is closed.

The fire drill is organized every year at the Saigon River Tunnel, which first opened 12 years ago.

Costing VND2 trillion (US$84.9 million), the tunnel stretches 1.49km long, 33m wide and 9m high, with six lanes.

The tunnel receives around 55,000 cars and 300,000 motorbikes every day.